Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

04/07/1940

Place of Enlistment

Paddington NSW

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Also spelt as 'Laurence'

Date of Birth

19/04/1917

Place of Birth

Ararat, Victoria

Address (at enlistment)

Manuka Arcade, Griffith ACT

Occupation

Labourer

Next of Kin

Mavis Williams (wife), Maunka Arcade, Griffith ACT

Service Number

NX56239

Final Rank

Private

Final Unit

2/18 Australian Infantry Battalion

Died in action, Singapore on 11 February 1942 aged 24 years

AWM Roll of Honour Memorial Panel 42, Canberra ACT

Williams joined the 3rd Battalion (militia) in September 1939. He worked at the Government Printing Office in Kingston and married on 18 June 1940, a couple of days after enlisting in Canberra. He entered the training depot at Warwick Farm near Sydney in July 1940 before embarking for Malaya. Williams arrived in Singapore in February 1941 and joined the 2/18 Battalion.

The 2/18 Battalion were based at Mersing in Malaya when the Japanese invaded in December 1941. They ambushed the Japanese at Nithsdale Estate on 27 January 1942 and then retreated to Singapore Island. The Japanese landed on Singapore on 8 February 1942 and the 2/18 Battalion began a fighting retreat. During this retreat, on 11 February 1942, Williams was killed in action. Williams is not commemorated on the Kranji Memorial at Singapore. Some records, such as the nominal roll, spell his given name as 'Laurence'.

Description - height 6 feet, weight 148 pounds, chest 35-38 inches, brown hair, brown eyes.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
AWM Roll of Honour Database
The Canberra Times - 27 January 1941, 2 April 1946